Natchez man faces aggravated domestic violence, DUI charge

Published 11:57 am Thursday, July 25, 2024

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NATCHEZ — Russell Handjis, 44, of Natchez has been arrested and charged with aggravated domestic violence and driving under the influence.

Adams County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to investigate a domestic incident in progress on Wednesday afternoon on South Palestine Road.

Russell Handjis, 44, of Natchez.

When deputies arrived on the scene, they found a 2018 Chevrolet truck and a 2021 Ford Explorer wrecked in a ditch.

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Deputies found Handjis sitting in his truck with open containers of alcohol and a handgun, according to a press release issued by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

During the investigation, deputies also located a 9mm rifle in the woods near Handjis’s truck.

“It is believed that Handjis ran the female driver of the Ford Explorer off the road and threatened her with the rifle before returning to his truck and attempting to leave the scene. However, he was unable to leave because this truck was stuck in the mud,” Sheriff Travis Patten said.

Both firearms were recovered and Handjis was offered a test to determine the alcohol content of his blood, which he refused.

Handjis was arrested and charged with aggravated domestic violence and driving under the influence and is currently in the Adams County Jail.

“The female victim is recovering from this traumatic and emotional event,” Patten said.